Luigi Mangione, 26, pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan federal courtroom Friday to charges tied to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—an assassination that has rocked the nation’s healthcare and political spheres.
The charges, filed in the Southern District of New York, include stalking, murder, use of interstate travel and electronic communications in the commission of a violent crime, and use of a firearm in the fatal attack.
If convicted of murder with a firearm, Mangione could face the death penalty—a possibility the Department of Justice confirmed it is actively pursuing.
The case marks a significant shift in federal criminal justice strategy, as the Biden-era moratorium on capital punishment appears to be giving way to a renewed embrace of the death penalty under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Mangione’s court appearance was striking. Calm and composed, he entered the courtroom in a tan prison jumpsuit and shackles. The proceeding drew a packed crowd of over 100 people, many appearing to support him.
Outside, demonstrations echoed the polarization surrounding the case. Some carried signs like “Free Luigi” and “No Death for Luigi Mangione,” while others mocked or condemned him, including one protester who brought a prop electric chair with a skeleton labeled as Mangione.
Federal prosecutors revealed they have amassed over a terabyte of data tied to the investigation, prompting District Judge Margaret M. Garnett to issue a May 27 deadline for evidence production.
The case, they argue, is airtight and reflects a carefully premeditated plot. According to an earlier complaint, Mangione traveled by bus from Atlanta to New York on November 24, 2024, using a false ID under the name “Mark Rosario” to check into a hostel. Surveillance footage later allegedly captured him on an electric bike near the New York Hilton Midtown on the day of the murder, December 4.
Thompson was in the city for a shareholder meeting when he was gunned down. Prosecutors claim Mangione used a so-called “ghost gun”—a firearm without serial numbers, often built from kits—to carry out the attack.
When he was arrested days later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, investigators allegedly found a notebook outlining a detailed plan for the assassination, indicating premeditation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi formally announced earlier this month that the DOJ will seek the death penalty, stating in an April 1 Instagram post:
“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson – an innocent man and father of two young children – was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Mangione’s legal team sharply criticized Bondi’s public comments, accusing the government of violating due process by making extrajudicial statements about the defendant and the pending case. His lawyers have filed motions seeking to remove the death penalty as a sentencing option.
Outside the legal arguments, the case has become a media spectacle, drawing attention from across the political spectrum. Former New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz stirred controversy after comments during a CNN interview last week, in which she described the groundswell of support Mangione has received—particularly from young women. Calling him a “revolutionary” and “morally good man,” her remarks drew swift backlash.
Lorenz later appeared on Fox News to clarify her position, stating she was describing the mindset of Mangione’s followers—not endorsing him personally.
“Those girls are not me, OK? We have very separate belief systems,” she said. “But I was describing how they believe.”
Legal experts view the DOJ’s stance in this case as part of a broader realignment. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News the department’s decision to seek the death penalty—especially in a blue state like New York that has banned capital punishment—represents a marked shift in prosecutorial philosophy.
“This is all political on both sides,” Rahmani said, “but I do believe we’re seeing a shift in DOJ policy here.”
Under President Biden, the Department of Justice had placed a moratorium on federal executions, reserving them only for the most extreme cases involving terrorism or hate-motivated mass killings.
Even so, Biden notably did not commute the sentences of convicted mass murderers Dylann Roof or Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, though he did reduce the sentences of 37 out of 40 other federal death row inmates.
In contrast, President Trump signaled a sharp reversal. In December, as President-elect, he vowed to reinstate federal executions for the most violent offenders.
“As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers and monsters,” Trump declared.
Mangione now faces charges in both New York and Pennsylvania, in addition to the federal indictment. Prosecutors allege his actions were not impulsive, but rather part of a deliberate plan months in the making. His trial is expected to become a lightning rod for national debates over criminal justice, capital punishment, and political polarization.
For now, Mangione remains in federal custody and maintains his plea of not guilty to all charges.
